Animation device for head and mouth of a toy

Abstract

An animation device for integration into an animated figure having a head with a jaw. The animation device comprises a cam assembly which is cooperatively engage to the jaw of the animated figure. The cam assembly is configured for linear movement along a first axis concurrently with pivotal movement about second and third axes which extend in generally perpendicular relation to each other and to the first axis. Mechanically coupled to the cam assembly is an actuation motor which is operative to facilitate the movement of the cam assembly along the first axis concurrently with movement about the second and third axes.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An animation device for integration into an animated figure having a head with a jaw, the animation device comprising: 
       a cam assembly cooperatively engaged to the jaw of the animated figure, the cam assembly being configured for linear movement along a first axis concurrently with pivotal movement about second and third axes which extend in generally perpendicular relation to each other and to the first axis; and  
       an actuation motor mechanically coupled to the cam assembly and operative to facilitate the movement thereof along the first axis concurrently with movement about the second and third axes;  
       the cam assembly being cooperatively engaged to the jaw of the animated figure in a manner wherein the movement of the cam assembly along the first axis facilitates the movement of the jaw between open and closed mouth positions, the movement of the cam assembly about the second axis facilitates the movement of the head in an arcuate path between right and left positions, and the movement of the cam assembly about the third axis facilitates the movement of the head in an arcuate path between forward and backward positions.  
     
     
       2. The animation device of  claim 1  wherein the cam assembly comprises: 
       an elongate first cam follower reciprocally moveable along the first axis;  
       a jaw plate cooperatively engaged to the jaw of the animated figure and mechanically coupled to the first cam follower in a manner wherein the movement of the first cam follower along the first axis facilitates the reciprocal pivotal movement of the jaw plate and resultant movement of the jaw between the open and closed mouth positions; and  
       a first cam mechanically coupled to and rotatable by the actuation motor, the first cam being cooperatively engaged to the first cam follower such that the rotation of the first cam facilitates the reciprocal movement of the first cam follower along the first axis.  
     
     
       3. The animation device of  claim 2  wherein the cam assembly further comprises: 
       a middle casing;  
       a second cam mechanically coupled to and rotatable by the actuation motor, the second cam and the actuation motor being at least partially disposed within the middle casing; and  
       a second cam follower cooperatively engaged to the second cam and the middle casing such that the rotation of the second cam facilitates the movement of the first cam follower about the second axis relative to the middle casing.  
     
     
       4. The animation device of  claim 3  wherein the cam assembly further comprises: 
       an outer casing;  
       a third cam mechanically coupled to and rotatable by the actuation motor, the third cam and the middle casing being at least partially disposed within the outer casing; and  
       a third cam follower disposed within the outer casing and cooperatively engaged to the third cam such that the rotation of the third cam facilitates the movement of the first cam follower about the third axis relative to the outer casing.  
     
     
       5. The animation device of  claim 4  further comprising: 
       a mouth contact switch attached to the cam assembly in a location whereat the mouth contact switch is actuated by the first cam follower when the jaw reaches the closed mouth position.  
     
     
       6. The animation device of  claim 5  further comprising: 
       an inner casing disposed within the middle casing, the actuation motor, the first cam follower, the first cam, the second cam follower, and the second cam being at least partially disposed within the inner casing;  
       left and right contact switches disposed between the inner and middle casings at locations whereat the left contact switch is actuated by the inner casing when the head reaches the right position and the right contact switch is actuated by the inner casing when the head reaches the left position; and  
       front and rear control switches disposed between the middle and outer casings at locations whereat the front control switch is actuated by the middle casing when the head reaches the forward position and the rear control switch is actuated by the middle casing when the head reaches the backward position.  
     
     
       7. An animation device, comprising: 
       a cam assembly configured for linear movement along a first axis concurrently with pivotal movement about second and third axes which extend in generally perpendicular relation to each other and to the first axis; and  
       an actuation motor mechanically coupled to the cam assembly and operative to facilitate the movement thereof along the first axis concurrently with movement about the second and third axes.  
     
     
       8. The animation device of  claim 7  wherein the cam assembly comprises: 
       an elongate first cam follower reciprocally moveable along the first axis;  
       a jaw plate mechanically coupled to the first cam follower in a manner wherein the movement of the first cam follower along the first axis facilitates the reciprocal movement of the jaw plate; and  
       a first cam mechanically coupled to and rotatable by the actuation motor, the first cam being cooperatively engaged to the first cam follower such that the rotation of the first cam facilitates the reciprocal movement of the first cam follower along the first axis.  
     
     
       9. The animation device of  claim 8  wherein the cam assembly further comprises: 
       a middle casing;  
       a second cam mechanically coupled to and rotatable by the actuation motor, the second cam and the actuation motor being at least partially disposed within the middle casing; and  
       a second cam follower cooperatively engaged to the second cam and the middle casing such that the rotation of the second cam facilitates the movement of the first cam follower about the second axis relative to the middle casing.  
     
     
       10. The animation device of  claim 9  wherein the cam assembly further comprises: 
       an outer casing;  
       a third cam mechanically coupled to and rotatable by the actuation motor, the third cam and the middle casing being at least partially disposed within the outer casing; and  
       a third cam follower disposed within the outer casing and cooperatively engaged to the third cam such that the rotation of the third cam facilitates the movement of the first cam follower about the third axis relative to the outer casing.  
     
     
       11. The animation device of  claim 10  further comprising: 
       a mouth contact switch attached to the cam assembly in a location whereat the mouth contact switch is actuated by the first cam follower when the first cam follower reaches a lower position limit.  
     
     
       12. The animation device of  claim 11  further comprising: 
       an inner casing disposed within the middle casing, the actuation motor, the first cam follower, the first cam, the second cam follower, and the second cam being at least partially disposed within the inner casing;  
       left and right contact switches disposed between the inner and middle casings at locations whereat the left contact switch is actuated by the inner casing when the first cam follower reaches a right position limit and the right contact switch is actuated by the inner casing when the first cam follower reaches a left position limit; and  
       front and rear control switches disposed between the middle and outer casings at locations whereat the front control switch is actuated by the middle casing when the first cam follower reaches a forward position limit and the rear control switch is actuated by the middle casing when the head reaches a backward position limit.  
     
     
       13. The animation device of  claim 1  wherein the actuation motor is reversible. 
     
     
       14. The animation device of  claim 7  wherein the activation motor is reversible.